Marines extend use of cargo UAV in Afghanistan

By Defense Systems Staff

May 14, 2012

The Marines have extended for two additional months their use of a pair of Lockheed Martin’s K-MAX unmanned cargo helicopters in Afghanistan in what might be a positive sign that there is a clear need for such equipment on the battlefield, reports Philip Ewing at DOD Buzz.

The service initially planned to fly the K-MAX only until the end of June, but now it is going to keep it in Afghanistan until the end of the fiscal year in September, the story said.

The two K-Max unmanned cargo aircraft being tested under battlefield conditions have maintained a steady pace of six missions per day since they were deployed in December 2012, with load deliveries ranging from a single 4,200-pound sling load to 28,800 pounds lifted in a single day, the company said in a statement.